January 15, 2026 l By Stephen — Dalena Reporters
OKUNRAN, Kogi State, Nigeria — A haunting video circulating on social media shows the streets of Okunran community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State completely deserted, with homes abandoned and no visible residents a vivid illustration of how escalating bandit attacks have driven villagers from their homes in fear for their lives.
Captured by local news outlet Egbe Mekun and obtained by SaharaReporters, the footage portrays an eerie stillness rarely associated with once-bustling rural settlements. Residents likened the empty town to a ghost town, a stark testament to how insecurity has upended civilian life in this central Nigerian state.
Local sources report that persistent kidnappings and armed assaults by bandits across Yagba West and neighbouring areas have forced families to abandon homes and seek refuge in safer neighbouring communities. Many residents told journalists that fear of being intercepted on the roads or targeted at night by criminal gangs has left them no choice but to flee.
The mass exodus follows a series of high-profile abductions and attacks in the region, including the December 14, 2025 raid on an ECWA church in Aiyetoro Kiri Bunu, where more than 30 worshippers were abducted, sparking outrage and demanding continuous negotiations between families, community leaders and captors.
In recent days, local authorities and vigilante groups have been overwhelmed by the frequency of attacks, leading to growing criticism of the state’s security response and renewed calls for federal intervention to protect vulnerable rural populations. Analysts note that bandit gangs have increasingly exploited porous borders, dense bushland and poor security infrastructure, making it difficult for law enforcement to prevent raids and kidnappings.
Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has publicly vowed to intensify efforts against criminal elements, ordering the demolition of suspected bandit hideouts and criminal camps across the state as part of a broader crackdown on insecurity. However, residents say the impact of these measures has yet to restore confidence or deter further violence.
The empty streets of Okunran vividly capture the human toll of Nigeria’s ongoing bandit crisis: whole communities uprooted, daily life disrupted, and ordinary citizens living under the shadow of fear. As security challenges mount, calls for enhanced military operations, community protection initiatives, and rapid deployment of federal resources have grown louder among displaced families and advocacy groups.